Lock



Aug. 26, 1924.,

B. J. GREER V LOCK File' May 2 :Iii Il.

Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN J. GREER, OF ATHENS, TEXAS.

LOCK.

Application filed May 2,

T0 all ech-0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. GREEK, a citizen of the United States, and va resident ofl Athens, in the county of Henderson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, .and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in combination locks, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a lock of this character which is most simple in construction and hence inexpensive in manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination lock which is entirely safe, and which is capable of almost an infinite number of combinations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock of this character which is formed of such a small number of parts that it is practically impossible for the lock to get o-ut of order.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock so constructed that it is impossible to feel out the combination.

Other and furthe-r objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

For a complete illustration of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the lock in closed position.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken through the body of the lock.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 o-f Fig. 2; and

Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the locking screws and a portion of the staple.

Referring to the drawingsr more in detail, numeral 1 indicates the body of the lock, which is adapted to receive the two legs: 2 and 3 of the sliding shackle 4. To permit a sliding movement of the shackle and yet prevent its withdrawal from the lock body, the longer leg 2 of the shackle is provided with a` cut-out portion 5, and a pin 6 is mounted in the lock body in position to (zo-operate with the cut-out portion.

Serial No. 836,090.

Each leg of the shackle is provided with a pair of grooves 7, and the grooves in the two legs are alined, as clearly shown in thc drawings. rlhe body of the lock is provided with suitable passages for the introduction of a U-shaped member 8, which will hereafter be termed a staple, and each leg of thi-s U-shaped member or staple co-operates with the ,grooves 7 in the shackle, thereby locking the shackle 'against longitudinal movement. It will be noted that one leg of the staple is of suiicient length to eX- tend beyond the lock body, as indicated by numeral 9; fthe purpose being to present means for pushing the staple free of the body when the shackle is to be withdrawn.

I will now describe the means by which the staple is locked in its operative position.

Each leg of the staple is provided with a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed grooves 10, there being three pairs of these grooves shown in the drawings. These grooves are preferably, though not necessarily, screw threaded, as indicated by numeral 11 on Figure 6.

The body of the lock is provided with a plurality of vertical passages 12, the walls of which are screw threaded, and mounted in each of these passages is a locking screw 13. rllhe locking screws are provided with oppositely disposed grooves 14, and when the locking screws are in the proper position these grooves will co-operate with the staple to permit withdrawal thereof.

Mounted in the lower portion of the loc-k body is a member 15, which performs a dual function. The member 15 is provided at both the top and bottom with a pair of inwardly extending flanges; the flanges at the top being indicated by numeral 16, and those atl the bottom being indicated by numeral 17. The flanges 16 project slightly over the open ends of the passages 121 and thereby prevent the removal of the locking screws. The flanges 17 coi-operate with the shank of the key 18, and these lianges, in conjunction with the collar 19 provided on the key, prevent removal of the key. Of course. the bottom wall of the lock body is provided with a slot to permit the key to be moved transversely of the lock to operate the various locking screws; the slot being indicated by numeral 20.

The operation of the device will be clearly understood from the foregoing description.

To secure the parts in locked position, the shackle 4 is rst pushed in and then the staple 8 is inserted; the legs of the staple entering the grooves 7 in the shackle and thereby preventing withdrawal of the shackle. The lockin sc-rews 13 are now given a few turns an the body of the locking screws will enter the grooves 10 in the staple, thereby preventing withdrawal of the staple.

Io unlock the parts each locking screw must be given a suiiicient number of turns, or fractions thereof, so that the grooves 14 will come into position to free the staple 8. It is obvious that a very line adjustment of the locking screws is necessary, for it is not only necessary that they be correctly positioned longitudinally, but also their angular position must be correct, in order that the grooves 14 will be in proper position to release the staple. It will be understood, of course, that in actual practice the combination, or number of turns and fractions thereof for each screw, will be determined from the extreme upper or lower position vof the screws. When the locking screws are `in position to release the staple the same is withdrawn; thereby freeing the shackle and permitting the opening of the lock.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised a lock that-is vmost simple in construction and inexpensive in manufacture; that is entirely safe; that is capable of almost an innitenumber of combinations; and that is so constructed that it is impossible to feel out the combination.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what uI now believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, butfI. do not wish to be understood thereby as' limiting myself or the scope of the inventiomas many changes and modifications may i be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; all such I aim 4to ncludein the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lock, including a body and a shackle, one leg of the shackle being provided with a groove, a member slidably mounted in the body, said member adapted to enter the groove in the shackle, said member also` provided with grooves, and locking screws adapted to engage said grooves.

2. A lock, including a body and -a shackle, the legs of the shackle being providedwith alined grooves, a member slidably mounted in the body, said member adapted to enter the alined grooves in the -shackle,said member also provided with grooves, and locking screws adapted to engage said grooves.

3. A lock, including a body and afshackle,

locking. screws adapted to engage said grooves.

5. A lock, including a body and a shackle, a slidable staple. adapted to engage the shackle to prevent movement thereof, and combination means engaging the slidable staple.

6. A lock, lincluding a body and a shackle, a slidable staple adapted to engage the shackle to prevent movement theyeof, one

end of the slidable stapleextending beyond the lock body for the purpose specified an d combination means engaging `the staple.

7.' A lock, including a body and a-shackle, a slidable memberadapted to eng-age the shackle to prevent .movement thereof, the slidable member provided with av-plural-ity of grooves, and locking screws adapted to engage-the grooves, said locking screws also Yprovided" with grooves, whereby the slid-able member is released when vthe grooves in the locking screws aline with the grooves in the slidable member. 1

' 8. A lock, including a body and a shackle, the legs of the shackle provided with-.oppositely disposed alined grooves, a U-shaped member slidablyf-mounted in the -body,'said U-shaped membergadaptedto enter the op- -positely disposed alined grooves, said U- shaped member also provided' with grooves, locking screws adapted .to engage the grooves in the *.U-shaped member, said locking screws also provided with grooves, whereby the U- shaped member is released when the grooves in the lock-ing screws: aline with l thegrcoves in the U-shaped member.

In a lock, ya body, said bodyprcvided with a plurality ofv vertical passages, locking screws mounted'in the passages, flanges extending artly over the ,Openends of v the passages, tereby reventing removal .of the locking screw,s 'a -shaped member adapted to be engaged byv the locking screws, and a shacklegadaptedfto be engagedA by the .U- shaped member.y

i. BENJAMIN J. GREEK. 

